The Florida Supreme Court on Monday announced that on April 7 it would hear the legal challenge to Gov. Charlie Crist’s pending $536 million Everglades restoration land deal.

The land deal, first proposed in June 2008, calls for South Florida taxpayers to pay for buying 73,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp. that would be used for restoring water flows to the Everglades.

U.S. Sugar-competitor Florida Crystals and the Miccosukee Tribe are challenging the financing for the deal, arguing it would cost taxpayers too much and further stall already-overdue Everglades restoration plans.

Environmental groups and other supporters call the deal a historic opportunity to acquire strategically located land to build reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas.

The Supreme Court hearing date comes after the March 31 deadline called for in the deal to get court approval for the financing plan. The contract with U.S. Sugar sets a June deadline to close on the deal. U.S. Sugar representative Judy Sanchez said Monday the company is willing to extend the deal if necessary due to the “lengthy litigation process.”